Section 11-50-171 Publication of Notice of Adoption of Resolution Authorizing Transfer, Certain Terms Thereof, Etc.; Limitation Period for Action to Restrain Proposed Transfer, Etc.

(a) After the adoption of proceedings providing for the transfer and conveyance of any water system or systems, the public corporation and municipality or municipalities proposing to make such transfer and conveyance shall cause to be published once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation within the limits of such municipality or municipalities a notice in substantially the following form (the blanks being first properly filled in) with the names of the public corporation and the municipality or municipalities appended thereto: “A resolution has been adopted by the board of directors of the _____ (herein insert the name of the public corporation proposing to make the transfer) and a resolution (or resolutions) has (or have) been adopted by the governing body (or bodies) of _____ (herein insert the name or names of the municipality or municipalities proposing to make the transfer) pursuant to the provisions of Article 5 of Chapter 50 of Title 11 of the Alabama Code, authorizing the transfer and conveyance of the water system (or systems) owned by such public corporation and situated in whole or in part in such municipality (or municipalities).” If the transferee public corporation is to assume the due and prompt payment of the principal and interest on such bonds or other obligations and the due and prompt performance of all other agreements and conditions in the manner authorized by such outstanding bonds, mortgages, indentures, resolutions, or other obligations, the notice shall contain the following: “_____ (herein insert the name of the transferee public corporation) has agreed to assume _____ (herein insert a brief description of the obligations assumed).” If a trust agreement or agreements have been established, the notice shall contain the following: “A trust agreement has been established with _____ (herein insert the name of the bank) consisting of cash or interest-bearing general obligations of the United States of America, or both, to provide for the payment and retirement of _____ (herein insert a brief description of the bonds or other securities referred to in Section 11-50-172. If there is more than one such issue also add a brief description of each trust established therefor).” In addition, the notice shall contain the following: “Any action or proceeding questioning the validity of the said resolutions or the proposed transfer and conveyance or _____ (herein insert the assumption of obligations or the trust agreement or agreements, whichever is applicable) must be commenced within 30 days after the first publication of this notice.” Such notice shall also be published by posting copies thereof at three public places within the limits of such municipality. Such public corporation, municipality, or municipalities shall also cause each trustee or paying agent, as the case may be, to mail a copy of the said notice, postage prepaid, to each owner or holder of any of the bonds or other securities referred to in the said notice, the names and addresses of which are known to such trustee or paying agent. (b) Any action or proceeding in any court to set aside the authorizing proceedings or to restrain the proposed transfer and conveyance or the assumption of obligations, if any, or the execution of the proposed trust agreement or agreements, if any, or to obtain any other relief with respect to any thereof, upon any ground, must be commenced within 30 days after the first publication of such notice in a newspaper as provided in subsection (a) of this section. After the expiration of such period of limitation, no right of action or defense founded upon the invalidity of the authorizing proceedings shall be asserted nor shall the validity of the said transfer and conveyance or of the assumption of obligations, if any, or of the said trust agreement or agreements, if any, or the said authorizing proceedings be open to question in any court upon any ground whatever, except in an action or proceeding commenced within such period.